![Image](http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/mayac/Restoring-Antar-City.jpg)
Disclaimer: "The characters of "Roswell" belong to Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, WB, and UPN. They are not mine and no infringement is intended."
Pairings/Couples/Category: M/L and some M/M and I/A
Rating: ADULT
Summary: King Whitman and his heir Alex Whitman die in a tragic accident. King Whiman's daughter Elizabeth becomes the Queen of Antar and is coerced into marrying Kivar who has always been after the throne and is using her to execute an evil plot. Max Evans, a poor farmer takes a job at the palace to save enough money to send home to his sick father. Will Max be able to save Liz and restore Antar?
Author's Note: There is some Max/Tess and Liz/Kivar at the beginning but this will be a Max/Liz fic. This is my first fic so please give me lots of feedback.
Part one
Max sighed as he closed the door to his fathers room. He was finally sleeping peacefully.
"How is he?" His mother asked him as she approached from the kitchen.
"Not good." Max replied. "But he’s asleep now so we should be quiet. He needs as much rest as he can get to gain his strength."
His mother nodded.
"Kyle is outside chopping some wood."
"I’ll go help him and I will bring some water in as well so that you can start supper."
His mother nodded giving him a weak smile as he went to join his brother.
Max felt completely helpless. His father was getting sicker and sicker and he and Kyle were doing their best to run the farm, keep a roof over the families heads and get the medical attention his father required., but it just wasn’t enough. His father had been sick for a long time and max was used to being the man of the house but this time things were different. Usually after a few weeks in bed his father was up and back to work for a few months, this time it didn’t look like he would be. The medicine the doctor had prescribed was too expensive and they had no way of coming up with the money.
One year ago the world of Antar was thriving. King Whitman was the most beloved King Antar had ever had. He was a kind, compassionate man who made sure that every Antarian was well looked after. Then the King and his heir Alex were killed in a tragic accident, and almost overnight Antar had changed. Elizabeth, the Kings daughter was left to take over the throne, she had married Kivar almost right away and made many changes to the Kingdom. The taxes were so high, there wasn’t enough food and water and the moral of the people was so low. She was said to be a cold Queen. There were rumors that she was cruel, that she had tortured inmates and was even sentencing criminals to death, Antar had never had a death penalty before. Queen Elizabeth and King Kivar had made this world impossible to live in and the people he cared for were suffering because of it, his father dying, his mother not eating enough so there would be enough food for her sons and his brother Kyle who was only 15years old was covered in blisters and fatigued from overwork. He felt like a failure because he was powerless to stop it.
After finishing the chores and checking on his father, max decided to get some air. He sat on the front porch and wondered what he could do to help his family. His mother and Kyle were both asleep. He knew he too needed rest but had been unable to sleep for days.
"How’s your dad?"
Max looked up to see his closest friend Michael walking up his laneway. He had known Michael since he was five years old. His parents had died tragically and he had been adopted by the Olsen’s who lived next door. They had been best friends since that day.
"There’s been no change." Max replied.
"Sorry." Micheal said putting a hand on his friends shoulder. He really felt for Maxwell, only 18 years old with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
" What was the announcement about today, in the town center?’ " He asked. He had intended to go but he had too much work.
"Representatives from the palace in Antar city were here recruiting security for the palace and servants as well."
" Really?" Max looked up.
" Your interested?" Michael asked skeptically.
" I need money Michael, I need to help my family. How much do they pay?"
"Free room and board, plus 500 antos a week"
Max’s eyes lit up. "With money like that I could buy fathers medicine."
"Who would look after the farm?" Michael asked.
"Kyle would and I could send enough money home for him to hire some help."
"Micheal I don’t have any other option."
"So you would work for that Queen who has caused this problem to begin with?" Michael questioned him.
“I don’t have any other choice Michael."
"There are always choices Maxwell."
" What about Tessa? You can’t just leave her, anyone who wants to go must leave with the royal representatives for Antar city tomorrow?"
Tessa. His beloved Tessa. It was late, but he needed to see her, needed her to understand.
" Michael, I have to go. " he said jumping up.
" I know ." Micheal laughed.
Max ran down the road, half a mile until he reached Tessa’s house, where he stopped to catch his breathe. He walked around to the back of the house and climbed in her bedroom window. He stood in her room watching her, she was so beautiful, the way her wavy blonde hair fanned out on the pillow. He sat down on the bed and stroked her cheek softly. They had known each other since they were eight years old at which time there parents had betrothed them.. They were both happy with the agreement as they had always loved each other. They had both turned eighteen and would get married in only a few months, Max was going to have to ask her to wait for him, and he only hoped she would say yes.
"Max?" she jumped up in shock, puling the covers around her. " What are you doing here? ’"
He had never been in her room before and never seen her in her nightgown. They had shared a few passionate kisses, but had not made love yet, that would not happen until her wedding night.
" Sorry Tessa. I had to see you and it couldn’t wait until morning. " he said with sad eyes.
" What is it? " she asked a look of concern on her face. " Is it your father? "
" No. I mean yes he’s still not doing well, but that's not what I have to tell you. Tessa, Im going to go work at the palace. "
" What? Why? " She asked mortified.
" I need the money to keep the farm going and help father get better."
" What about our wedding? " She asked him nervously. She was so in love with him. She had been waiting her whole life to marry him.
He smiled and pushed a strand of her hair behind her hair.
" Oh sweetheart, we will still get married. This is one of the reasons I have to go, I have nothing to offer you right now. Once I save some money we can build a home and start a real life together. "
" Oh Maxwell, I don’t care about any of that, I just want to be with you. " She said tears streaming down her face.
" I know and that’s one of the reasons I love you so " He said puling her into his arms.
" So this is the last time I may see you for years. " She said quietly.
He nodded tears in his eyes. " I will write to you. I promise. "
He leaned forward and gently brushed her lips with his own. She deepened the kiss, sinking back into the bed, pulling him with her. He ran his hands through her hair, trailing kisses down her neck. She felt so nervous, they had never gone this far before. She wanted to make love to him, she may never see him again and she wanted to remember what it felt like.
"Max. " she pleaded.
He pulled the straps on her nightgown down revealing her breasts and he took one in his mouth, the nipple hardening at his touch. He wanted to make her his. She was so beautiful he thought as he pulled the other nipple in his mouth the same way. He stopped suddenly. What was he doing? This wasn’t fair to her.
" Sorry, Tessa. " He said embarrassed.
"No, its ok. I want to make love to you.’" She replied shyly.
Max looked at her. She was such a trusting caring person. He took her hand to his lips and kissed it gently.
"No I can’t do that to you. If we sleep together and something happens to me and we can’t get married, no one would have you as a bride if you were not a virgin.’" It was an Antarian custom.
"But…but I could never be with anyone but you. " She cried.
"I can’t. " He cried getting up and moving away from her.
"I must go."
"No, please stay." She begged him.
"I can’t."
"Max." She said “I heard Queen Elizabeth is very cold and calculating. Whatever happens do not trust her. " She warned him
"Thank you." He said as he stepped through her window into the night air.
"I love you." he said and walked away.
"I love you too." She whispered as she broke into a sob. She couldn’t shake the feeling she would never see him again.
The next morning he packed his things, kissed his mother goodbye and left for Antar City. His mother cried as she watched him walk away, her poor son, his whole life had been one of responsibility, to his father, his brother, even Tessa, she wondered if her son had ever had a moment’s enjoyment in his life and if he ever would?
When Max arrived at the town square, there were only 5 other men waiting. He couldn’t say he was surprised, even though the other villagers needed money just as badly as he did the rumors of the queens cruelty were probably enough to keep them away. He signed the consent form and started to walk towards the carriage that would take him to the palace.
" Wait, wait." someone yelled and he turned around to see Michael running towards him.
"You didn’t think I would let you go alone?" He said smiling at Max.
Max gave him a hug.
Max and Michael got in one of the carriages with the royal escorts. Max couldn’t deny that he was scared. He had no idea what Antar city would be like, or what work in the palace would be like. Was this Queen really as horrible as they had said she was? What could have happened to her to make her so evil when her brother Alex and her father had been such warm people? Well he would find out soon enough he though as he closed his eyes hoping to get some sleep before they arrived at the palace. He had a feeling he was going to need it. At least Michael was with him.